Brent Reaney
Northern News Services

Rankin Inlet (Aug 10/05) - During the last census, Johnny Ittinuar was asked a number of questions, but does not remember being asked if he was disabled until he brought it up with the interviewer.

"When you're on the phone, they can't see you, so it's not something they ask you," said Ittinuar, who lost the use of his legs in a motor vehicle roll-over several years ago.

Every five years, the Canadian census collects a variety of data from households across Canada.

Statistics Canada communications manager Sherry Wallace said survey participants are asked if they, or someone they live with, suffers from a disability.

But she said the disabilities are not broken into groups because quantifying a problem can be a matter of opinion.

And Northern census statistics are often placed into one category for all three territories because of the small population base, a poor response rate, or both, she said.

Starting in September, the nearly-incorporated Nunavut Society for the Disabled, or Nunavummi Makinnasuaqtiit Society, plans to begin counting the number and types of disabilities in the territory.

Accurate numbers on disabilities could help the territorial government best determine how to spend health program dollars, or help the society get more funding, Ittinuar said, the group's Kivalliq region representative.

The society consists of representatives from the Qikiqtaani, Kivalliq, and Kitikmeot Inuit Associations, as well as Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. and the Government of Nunavut.

The group is planning a number of projects including the development of healing programs for disabled people, but the needs assessment is the first step.

Ittinuar said the society will receive $90,000 this year from the government, most of which will go toward hiring a co-ordinator for the needs assessment.

He encourages disabled people to be more vocal about the issues they face.

"We're always the last ones to be thought of. If you don't make noise, you're not going to get any oil."